Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-08-24
REUNION OF OLD SOLDIERS.
Meeting Of the Northwestern Soldiers
Association at Sioux City, Iowa
A Notable Gathering.
Interesting Mention Of the Occasion
An Auspicious Opening Elegant
Weather.
THE FIRST DAY.

uieTs ussoclauOn began III oiOux Cly, Ia,
August 16, under very favorable auspices.
The weather was cool and pleasant. and
added greatly to the pleasure of those in
attendance. The G. A. r. posts of Sioux
City had done all in their power Tor the
comfort and entertainment of the many
visitors, and in this they were heartily as
sisted by private ciiz ms. Many business
houses and private reidences were appro-
priately decorated with the ars and stripes
and q. A. II. banners while hundreds of
coat lapels bore small badges.
Among the frst to arrive was battery F,
fourth artillery, under command of Cap
tain Rodney, from Ft Smelling, Mnn. 1t
consisted of four large guns, as many
ammunition wagons, forty eight horses,
and sixty-five men, with the usual quota of
officers. They went into camp at the fair
grounds, and it was interesting TO note tie
strict discipline maintained, and the GUS
toms OF regular army life. Everything de-
notes tie utmost care and attention. A
lone sentinel, relieved every two hours,
passed methodically on the beat about the
cnnons, and another performed the same
duty in the vicinity OF the horses, while
the balance of the boys lounged carelessly
about camp, played cards, spun yarns, and
read and smoked. The horses are of uni
form color and size, being dark bays, and
of heavy weight. During the prclimi-
naries of the opening day this camp was
the nucleus of attraction at the fair grounds,
though many strolled about the 800 tents
which stretched along the south side of the
grounds, reaching down to floral hall
where the Woman's Relief Corps furnished
refreshments. The delegations arriving
the first day were from Sanborn, Primghar,
Cherokee, Onawa, Calliope, Storm Lake,
Ponca, Dakota City, LeMars, Sibley ana
one or two other places.
Among those present who attracted
special attention was Gen. Tuttle, of Des
Moines, commander-in- chief of the State
&. A. Il. During the afternoon he address,
cd a crowd o, some 800, speaking in the
grand amphitheutre at the fair grounds.
HIS talk was rather a disappointment to
his listeners, and was hardly such as would
be expected on an occasion of this kind,
being more Of political speech than an
bipartisan talk to old soldiers.
BELLE BOYD THE REBEL SPY,
Came in for her share of attention. In
1862 Belle Boyd was in the service Of the
confederacy as q soy. While the union
army was encamped about fifty miles from
White Post, Virginia, fine appearing
gentleman entered the camp. 1t was sup
posed that the visitor was a citizen who
was there out of curiosity. He remained
for several hours and then suddenly left.
A short time after his going negro soldier
informed Capt. Fisher, now of Vermillion,
and who is present at the reunion, that the
late visitor was not man, but the famous
rebel spy, Belle Boyd. Capt. Fisher started
in pursuit of the spy. She was overtaken
just as she was entering her headquarters
at White Post. She had changed her
clothes and was then dressed as a lady.
She was arrested and taken to the Union
camp. She was held as prisoner for some
time and then sent TO Washington, where
she was incarcerated in the old capital
prison. She was sentenced to be hanged.
A Union officer in Washington saw her in
Jail and fell in love with her. Through
his efforts she was pardoned by President
Lincoln and she and her rcscuer were mar
ried at the cleso OF the war.
THE SECOND DAY.
The brightest hopes OF the promoters of
the soldiers reunion, somewhat clouded BY
the heavy shower of Tuesday night, were
more than realized as the sun of Wednes-
day morning sbone from above the eastern
horizon, revealing cloudless day, and q
and their legion of friends. During Tues
day night and Wednesday large delegations
arrived from Paul ma, Boone, Peterson,
Rock Rapids, Missouri Valley, Ida Grove,
Alexandria, ID. T.. and many other towns,
until the city was moving mass of sol.
dierly bearing gentlemen, for the most part
dressed n blue, and many were accom-
panied by their wives and friends. The
earlier hours Of the day were given up to
handshakiug, in!erchanges of personal
recoilections, as long separated comrades
once again met, and social amenities ruled
the day up to 10 o'clock when the grand
parade took place. At that hour the prin-
cipal streets, balconies, windows and stair
ways we're thronged with handsomely at
tired ladies, bright faced chill ircn and IN
terested looking gentlemen, all intent on see
ing the old veterans, and honoring them
one of the largest and most imposing
TINT ever graced the streets of Sioux City
-sosdierly in bearing, intelligent in ap-
pearance, and legion in number. The large
body halted in front of the Hotel Booge,
when Ju ge c. II. Lewis was introduced
and for half on hour entertained the vast
throng with most ANNA ed and interest
ing address, feeling in sentiment and ap-
propriate to the occasion.
The veterans were welcomed in neat
speech by the mayor, and then regaled by
an interesting talk from Hon. Isaac
Struble. The procession then broke
ranks, large number 60 ng to general
headquart, rs at the fair grounds, while
others visited about the city. During the
afternoon several interesting features took
place n ihe nature of drills, ETC., and upon
the whole the day was Que of great EN- Joy
wit nj M
grounds in the evening, with attendant
speeches, songs and jolly good time gen.
erally.
THE LAST DAY
OF the northwestern soldiers reunion was
the most interesting of the three days tx
ercises, and the crowd was much larger
than earlier in the reunion. The event of
the day, and it might be said Of the re-
union, was the drill by Battery F, Of the
regular army.
Long before the drill began the center of
attraction was that portion OF the field
where the artillery was parkei, and ns
preparations were being made for moving
the battery the onlookers increased 10 a
great crowd, keenly inspecting the wrinkled
front Of grim-visaged war and watching the
details OF military discipline.
The battery as 1t moved into the open
field in front of the grand stand--that is,
the space within the race track--was
warmly welcomed by tue multitude OF
spectators. 1t was grand sight AMI to
many novel on. The exhibition in
udei many leading fe tures Of artillery
pract ce. Among oihr things there was
representation OF a battery in charge, in re-
sistance TO q charge, firing in succession,
in section and stimuli, ane ously, and also
grape shot and canister, in retreat and on
the march. All these movements. to2, ther
with the collateral revolutions and detail of
tactics were Witnessed BY the spectators
with intense interest and with admiration
OF the precision and skill displayed. It
was spectacle long 10 be remembered sna
the cFowning event Of the encampment.
The others of the battery in their rela-
tion with those having the meeting In
charge and the citizens OF Sioux Citv, have
left the impression Of gentlemen. They were
examples OF firu. military courtesy and n d.
bO0d, and the r service most valuable, and